Compare towns
Hampstead vs Litchfield vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hampstead | Litchfield | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
8,499Lowest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.1±1.7 11% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Litchfield and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$162,036±$11kHighest 101% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$485,000±$18k 46% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$2,138±$406Highest 51% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Litchfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$8,273 165% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
81.5%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Litchfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #49 of 120 in NH | #53 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Litchfield School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Campbell High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.